Welcome to Big Old Goofy World . . . a place where I can share my thoughts, hopes, and dreams about this rock that we live on and call home.

Monday, November 11, 2013

And, To Think . . .

. . . all I needed to sustain my life
of introversion was a human-sized hamster ball!I don’t know why I did not think of this sooner!I want to thank my friend, Sara Bowker
Belden, for sharing this story on Facebook:
http://themetapicture.com/how-to-interact-with-the-introverted/.If you have an introvert in your life, this
is a good little infograph for you for gleaning a little insight into their
behavior.I just wish I had seen it a
little earlier in my life.

Who would have thought that by placing
myself in a gigantic hamster ball I could have avoid some of those
uncomfortable moments in my life when I really did not want to have any
interaction with others . . . I could have just rolled off into the sunset by
myself.

The information shared in the
infograph explains that it is all about energy.Introverts create their own energy; extrovert gather their energy from
others around them.Introverts like “alone”
time as it is when they are re-energizing themselves; extraverts like “people
time” because that is where they gather their energy.Introverts tend to seem to be stand-offish;
extraverts are party animals soaking up the energy of those around them.Introverts really do not care for this and
see such behavior as invasive, obnoxious, and rude . . . but, that is just the
way that each is wired, and it is sure draining on introverts.

Thus, introverts attempt to protect
their energy by sealing themselves off in a great big hamster ball that is
practically impenetrable.Ever attempt
to cozy up to someone who was an introvert and hit a brick wall?Yeah, that is that hamster ball.It is all about the personal space . . .
where an extrovert knows very little about personal face as they are always
right there within inches of everyone, the introvert carries a yard stick to
keep the space.It is not so much to
measure what is a safe distance as it is to whack someone when he or she gets
into that personal space.A human-size
hamster ball would negate the need for carrying a yard stick around all of the
time.

I work in an office in which I have
let everyone know that I am an introvert . . . they don’t believe it.They kind of see me as being extroverted . .
. but, that is because I have come to find that the majority of them are pretty
nice, safe people who I enjoy . . . in spurts.With them I can be talkative and appear to be extrovert . . . but, I am
not.I am a sneak attacker . . . I pick
and choose those moments when I want interaction.They are moments when I initiate the contact
. . . that I step out of the hamster ball into the world of the extravert . . .
those moments when I feel comfortable.The bottom line is I am pretty happy sitting in my office doing my own
thing.It is my choice, not theirs.It looks extrovert, but it is really
introversion at work . . . it is a choice I am making.As they often say, a good offense is the best
defense.

The infograph goes on to share a
method to interact with introverts . . . if that is something people want to
do.It is simple, open the door . . .
leave the door open . . . and, wait.Wait to see if the introvert will walk in and interact. Say hello . . . be friendly, polite, and
relaxed . . . then go back to whatever else it was that you were doing.This is basically setting the trap and a good
portion of it is waiting to see if the introvert takes the bait.If the introvert feels that you are safe,
that he or she will be safe . . . they will walk in the door.

I appreciate what the infograph
concludes with . . . things folks need to remember about introverts:

·Don’t
demand energy spent on you from introverts when you don’t need it . . . don’t
be an energy sapper . . . an energy sucking vampire!

·Don’t
take silence as an insult—it isn’t!We
introverts will let you know when we don’t like you.We will run over you with our hamster balls.

·Introverts
get lonely, too.Yeah, we do.Like all humans, we need a little human touch
to make it through the day.Just ask
first, otherwise you might get your arm broken when you attempt to give us a
hug that we are not prepared for . . . that would be terrible!

There you have it . . . a short little primer
on introversion and how to crack through the elusive hamster ball of
introversion.I will be prepared for the
onslaught . . . but, it sure would be a heck of a lot easier if I could just
find out where they sell those human-size hamster balls!